Artist Protection Fund Grants

The Artist Protection Fund (APF) is a three-year pilot program at the Institute of International Education, sponsored by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The APF makes life-saving fellowship grants to threatened artists from any field of artistic endeavor, and places them at host universities and arts centers in safe countries where they can continue their work.

Eligibility Criteria:

Artists from any country and artistic discipline may qualify. Applications are reviewed for artistic merit, the quality/potential of the applicant's work, and the severity of the threats that the applicant faces. Preference is given to artists who:

[1] Are facing or have recently fled from immediate, severe, and targeted threats to their lives and/or artistic practice in their home countries or countries of residence.

[2] Demonstrate accomplishment and promise in their artistic practice.

[3] Will benefit their home and/or host communities.

Note: Applications from women and members of ethnic, racial, cultural, or religious minority groups, or those otherwise underrepresented in their fields are encouraged.

APF does not grant fellowships to students seeking to continue their academic studies. In addition, APF gives priority to individuals still living in their home country or who have recently fled. APF typically does not consider applications from individuals who have been displaced or in exile for more than two years, or who hold citizenship or other permanent status in a second country.

Applicants are required to provide two (2) professional and two (2) personal letters of reference:

- The two (2) professional letters of reference must be from creative professionals who can speak to the applicant's artistic practice, exhibitions, publications, teaching, or other advanced artistic experience.

- The two (2) personal letters of reference must be from colleagues or persons who are aware of the difficulties the applicant's has been facing. These letters can include artistic merit.